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jaytee

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Posts posted by jaytee

  4. Wavetable sequencing and the waveform parameter

    in MIDIbox SID

    Posted · Edited by jaytee

    Ok, that the documentation was wrong clears a lot of stuff up. Logically, I knew it had to be a 7-bit parameter, but the parameter list was throwing me for a loop.

     

    I don't know the digital conversions by heart, but I'm familiar enough with the process. I wrote a patching interface in Lemur for my MKS-7, which handles several sysex parameters in the same way.

     

    I still can't figure out what I was doing wrong with the tutorial though. Even if the values I was using were incorrect (ie relative instead of absolute), I don't know why the sound would have been inconsistent upon each keypress. I'll have to go back and try it again to see if I can replicate my results. If so, I'll post a recording and take note of my settings.

  5. Wavetable sequencing and the waveform parameter

    in MIDIbox SID

    Posted

    I was hoping that someone a little more well-versed in wavetable sequencing could help me out. I'm pretty comfortable with 90% of the features in my sammichSID, and it's my go-to synth when it comes to complex sound design (the mod matrix, the crazy envelopes, six oscillators and two filters to play with; the only thing I own that's more powerful is my K2000, and it's not nearly as fun) but I've stayed away from the wavetable sequencer until now.

     

    However, I find myself wanting to roll my own drum sounds (and perhaps experiment with the other sound design possibilities that the WTs open up) and that is gonna require me to learn. For the most part, it actually all feels pretty straightforward. I understand the concept, I've played with parameter sequencing on other synths before, and I'm used to the limited interface of the sammichSID by now. 

     

    The one thing I can't wrap my head around, however, is the waveform parameter. In the parameter chart here, the "description" column shows the parameter as a 7-bit number (0-127), with each bit controlling a different flag. However, the "range" column claims that this parameter only goes from 0-15 (4-bit number). Then there's the "reset" column, which in other parameters seems to be the "off" or "neutral" position (typically the highest, lowest or median value within the possible range), but here is mysteriously listed as "4." Can anyone elaborate on how this parameter works?

     

    FWIW, I tried to figure it out based on both trial and error as well as following the v1 WT tutorial. Trial and error got some interesting and reproducible results, but I still couldn't figure out what values corresponded to which waveforms. Following the tutorial (just the first section on creating a kick drum), I got some truly strange and inconsistent results, with each consecutive keypress slowly morphing from a tonal sound to noise before going silent; sometimes I could get this behavior to reset, while other times the sammichSID would just stay silent until switching patches. Really weird stuff.

     

    the only other thing I'm having a little trouble with is the relative values vs the absolute values. Do they function basically the same, and are just both present to accommodate different parameters that make more sense with one than the other? Or is there something more complex happening that I don't get? I only realized that both were present about halfway through my experimentation, so it's fully possible that some of my difficulties were due to setting the wrong type of value (ie setting +04 instead 04). Does that sound right?

     

    thanks for the help.

  7. SammichSid w 2x 8580 for sale

    in Fleamarket

    Posted

    No disrespect is intended, and my response was not necessarily directed solely at you but rather at all the recent high-priced sammich sales. I thought that was clear, but perhaps not.

     

    All the same, the license agreement clearly states that resale a should not be for more money than what parts and assembly cost. $500 is nearly double what the kits originally cost. If you think your troubleshooting and train ticket costs count as assembly (and totaled ~$250), go for it. I'm just a dude on the Internet, it shouldn't really matter if I think it's rude to ask such a price.

  8. SammichSid w 2x 8580 for sale

    in Fleamarket

    Posted

    $500 for a sammichSID with admittedly questionable internals? We do all remember that part of the MIDIbox license is not reselling these units for profit, right? I get that if someone else is willing to pay it, there's not much any of us can do to stop the sale, but to advertise it here, so blatantly flouting the license agreement, seems rude at the very least.

     

    FWIW, I already own a sammichSID, and if I buy another, it'll be one of the upcoming kits. So this isn't me trying to get a better price; if anything, it's nice to know that my gear is going up in value. But seriously people, just a little respect for the people that made this gear possible?

  9. MIDI note out from Sequencer?

    in MIDIbox SID

    Posted

    If the only reason you want this is to get that first note-on to wake up your module (ie you don't want to actually sequence with the sequencer), you could modify the sammichSID code to arbitrarily output a midi note at some desirable point in operation. I recall at one point, I had my sammichSID setup to use the out as a soft thru (or maybe merge?), so it wouldn't be impossible to figure something out that will wake your module, even if the sequencers won't work.

  20. Ctrlr based editor for MBSID V2

    in MIDIbox SID

    Posted

    Can someone explain to me what the three options in the lower right of the OSC panel are for? Where you choose your SID, mono/stereo, and your filter caps? I figured it would be like a quick change to calibrate all your filter settings at once, but it seems to have zero effect that I can see. I checked the manual for these options in the menus of the synth itself and didn't see anything analogous either. On the other hand, they make my patch bay blink, so they're obviously sending *something*.

     

    Not a big deal, just curious.

  24. Can I just get a quick reality check on a project idea? Is this feasible?

    in MIDIbox SID

    Posted · Edited by jaytee

    I've had this idea of creating a monster Casio SK sampler/ synth/modular circuit bent monstrosity for a few years now and I am finally moving it out of the concept stage to begin work on it.

    One of the most important features is the addition of a filter/filter bank to the Casios. Graham Meredith created a filter bank for his SK-8 and produced instructions on building one, but after two separate attempts, I can't get the durn thing to work, so I'm here looking at other options.

    My first thought was to build a different filter than the one Graham was using; I found some decent designs that run off 9v and should work nicely, but my lack of experience troubleshooting circuits and my failure on the previous builds has me worried.

    My second thought was to grab some SSM2044 chips and use them as ready-made filter modules. This is a bit more appealing, but the thought of designing a circuit around an existing chip is also a bit daunting. Still, at least these chips are well-documented, as opposed to the free schematics for filter circuits that are floating around.

    My third thought (and what brings me to this forum) was that maybe there are other chips around that can natively filter external audio and hey doesn't the SID chip do that and HEY A SID SYNTH AND AN SK-1 IN THE SAME CASE SOUNDS INCREDIBLE.

    So basically, I'm hoping that someone can let me know if what I want to do is impossible before I start buying up SIDs and PCBs and go nuts.

    I have two possible concepts in mind, one is truly polyphonic and the other is paraphonic.

    The first would be to build an MBSID around 4 SID chips (one filter per voice of the Casio SK). I am thinking I could hook up the envelope CVs inside the SK to the MBSID's analog inputs to modulate filter cutoff per note. How does this sound? Do the analog inputs respond quickly enough for this use?

    The other, simpler and cheaper idea, would be a paraphonic SID filter, whereby MIDI signals from the SK would trigger filter envelopes programmed into the MBSID patch. This should definitely be possible, right?

    I am possibly not explaining myself as well as I hope, so feel free to ask clarifying questions. Right now this is all sort of floating around in my brain, so I'm just as confused as you are, in all likelihood.

    Edit: Just to give an idea where I am... Like I said, I am not great at troubleshooting circuits, though I can follow a signal path through one alright. I built my own sammichSID a couple years ago, so while that was a no-fuss intro to MIDIbox, I'm familiar with the platform and have read the MBSID manual probably a dozen times. I don't foresee much of an issue building a modular MBSID (as opposed to possible problems that might arise building standalone filters), but I'm more concerned with integrating external hardware (Casio SK) into the concept.

    Basically, the end result will hopefully be an SK-1, an SK-8 and an MBSID, all housed in the same case, with the ability to freely patch the audio path as seen fit; ie, one could play any of the three individually, one could sample the MBSID into an SK, one could filter one SK through the MBSID to be sampled by the second SK.... Something along those lines.

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